Council chiefs have launched a probe after soft porn images were allegedly sent between staff via e-mail.

Newcastle Civic Centre inquiry is into inappropriate use of computer facilities.

An employee working from an office outside the council's headquarters is said to have sent adult explicit material to another in a customer services office elsewhere on Tyneside.

Up to six employees are thought to have been interviewed over the inquiry but a council spokeswoman said only two people have been suspended.

The Newcastle Council spokeswoman said: "A disciplinary investigation is under way into the potential abuse of the internal e-mail system.

"Two employees have been suspended."

Northumbria Police's computer crimes investigations unit was consulted by council chiefs over the images but police are not involved in a criminal investigation. It is understood a picture sent via e-mail was of the sexually explicit top shelf magazine nature but did not involve child porn.

The Chronicle was told the alert was raised last week when a social services staff member by chance saw an employee receive the e-mail.

The local authority inquiry comes after it was revealed a separate probe into alleged computer pornography had been launched by Sunderland Council.

Two councillors have been suspended after porn was allegedly found on their computers.

The inquiry was started after the material was supposedly found by Sunderland Council staff on laptops belonging to former leader Colin Anderson and Aileen Hardy.

They have both been asked to tender their resignations from any official council posts although they will remain ward councillors.

Coun Anderson represents the city's Millfield Ward and was leader of the council between 1999 and 2002.

He said: "I have never at any time accessed any pornographic sites through council computers or any other computers. An investigation is taking place and I am co-operating fully." Coun Handy represents the Ryhope Ward and is the community services member sitting on the council cabinet, a post which involves dealing with services such as waste disposal and recycling.

She said she was taking legal advice on the matter.

A Sunderland Council spokesman said: "The matter has been referred to the Standards Board for England."